Seabeck Conferences — 2012 – 2014

2014 at Seabeck

Fourteen of us gathered for our spring conference at the Seabeck Conference Center on Hood Canal in Washington State on May 13-15, 2014. The weather was amazing, with crystal-clear views of the Olympic Mountains just across the sparkling blue waters of Hood Canal. (Moving the conference from April to May really paid off in the much better weather. Think warm and sunny.) Bald eagles and crows put on a show that distracted us from the program.

Speaking of the program, the focus was on how we experience beauty in our lives. With a brief introduction, we met in a small group ministry format and spoke from our own experiences, which demonstrated a vast range of experiences of beauty that touches all the senses. In the arts-and-crafts time, we made collages illustrating beauty.

Shirley Ranck presented her odyssey and reflections on her work in Women’s Spirituality and as a very active interim minister, extolling the virtues of interim ministry. Part of her story is in her book, The Grandmother Galaxy. And we experienced worship together, including a wonderful homily that Sylvia Falconer prepared for the memorial service honoring retired ministers and partners who have died in the past year.

Of course the setting is spectacular, the food healthy and plentiful, and the company terrific. We were especially pleased that Ray and Gretchen Manker came from Arizona, escorted by their daughter and son-in-law, Kathy Manker and Bruce Gardner.

Previously at Seabeck